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Corona, originally named South Riverside, was founded at the height of the Southern California citrus boom in 1886, and is advantageously situated at the upper end of the Santa Ana River Canyon, a significant pass through the Santa Ana Mountains. The town of Corona was once the "Lemon Capital of the World". A museum there presents the lemon's former role in the local economy. The city derived its name (and its nickname, "The Circle City") from the curious layout of its streets, with a standard grid enclosed by the circular Grand Boulevard, 2.75 miles (4.43 kilometers) in circumference.[9] The street layout was designed by Hiram Clay Kellogg, a civil engineer from Anaheim who was an influential figure in the early development of Orange County.

Corona was established as a town by the South Riverside Land and Water Company. The company was incorporated in 1886; founding members included ex-Governor of Iowa Samuel Merrill, R.B. Taylor, George L. Joy, A.S. Garretson, and Adolph Rimpau.[10] Originally a citrus growers' organization, it purchased the lands of Rancho La Sierra of Bernardo Yorba, and the Rancho Temescal grant and the colony of South Riverside was laid out. They also secured the water rights to Temescal Creek, its tributaries and Lee Lake. Dams and pipelines were built to carry the water to the colony. In 1889, the Temescal Water Company was incorporated, to supply water for the new colony. This company purchased all the water-bearing lands in the Temescal valley and began drilling artesian wells.[11]

Originally located in San Bernardino County, the city was named "South Riverside" and received its post office in that name on August 11, 1887.[12] In 1893, South Riverside became part of the new Riverside County. In 1896, the city was renamed "Corona" for its circular Grand Boulevard, where three international automobile races were held in 1913, 1914 and 1916.[13]

The city of Corona has been popular among celebrities drawn to its upscale areas and relative privacy compared to Los Angeles. Desi Arnaz spent time at their ranch, located in north Corona, and played golf often at Cresta Verde Golf Course in the northeastern section of the city.[14] After their divorce, Mr. Arnaz continued to live in Corona.

In recent years Corona has been known as the "Gateway to the Inland Empire". Prior to the 1980s, the city was largely an agricultural community, dominated by citrus orchards, ranches, and dairy farms. High real estate prices in Los Angeles and Orange counties made the area's land desirable to developers and industrialists, and by the late 1990s Corona was considered a major suburb of Los Angeles.[citation needed]

Housing development in the city has been accelerated by access to the area via the SR 91, with many families leaving Orange County to larger, more affordable housing available in the city. The construction of the nearby SR 71 has linked Corona to the Pomona and San Gabriel valleys. Due to traffic caused by Corona's considerable growth, toll roads have been built along the 91 freeway, with future toll road expansions under construction and in the planning stages along Interstate 15. While there were talks to construct a proposed 10 mi (16 km) automobile and fast-speed train tunnel under Santiago Peak to connect Interstate 15 in Corona with Interstate 5 and SR 55 in Orange County to cut down on commuter traffic on the crowded 91 freeway, this concept has been shelved indefinitely.

In 2002, the city government considered an initiative to secede from Riverside County and form an autonomous Corona County because the city government and some residents were dissatisfied with how services were handled in nearby areas. The effort was also considered by areas in other cities in the western part of the county as far south as Murrieta. Whether nearby cities such as Norco would have been included in the new county are unknown. The proposed county would have been bordered by San Bernardino County to the northwest, and by Orange County to the west, but it never came to fruition.[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.9 square miles (101 km2), of which, 38.8 square miles (100 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.27%) is water.

Corona experiences a warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classificationCSa) and has mild winters and hot summers. Most of the rainfall (as in all of Southern California) occurs during winter and early spring. The winter low temperatures can get cold enough for frost, with rare snowfall seen on the local foothills. Winter days are pleasant, with the mercury staying around 65 degrees Fahrenheit (occasionally warming into the 70s). Summertime is hot, with highs averaging in the low 90s. During the hottest months, daytime temperatures in Corona often exceed 100 degrees.[18][19]

The Census reported that 151,863 people (99.7% of the population) lived in households, 229 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 282 (0.2%) were institutionalized.

There were 44,950 households, out of which 22,735 (50.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 27,357 (60.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 5,971 (13.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3,004 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,690 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 360 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,455 households (14.4%) were made up of individuals and 2,224 (4.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.38. There were 36,332 families (80.8% of all households); the average family size was 3.72.

The population was spread out with 45,674 people (30.0%) under the age of 18, 15,504 people (10.2%) aged 18 to 24, 44,215 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 35,801 people (23.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,180 people (7.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

There were 47,174 housing units at an average density of 1,211.8 per square mile (467.9/km²), of which 30,210 (67.2%) were owner-occupied, and 14,740 (32.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.3%. 103,170 people (67.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 48,693 people (32.0%) lived in rental housing units.

During 2009–2013, Corona had a median household income of $77,123, with 10.8% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[25]

There were 37,839 households out of which 49.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 14.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.3 and the average family size was 3.6.

In the city, the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $98,615, and the median income for a family was $83,505 (these figures had risen to $88,620 and $95,450 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[27]). Males had a median income of $44,752 versus $31,884 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,001. About 6.0% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Many of the homes in the center of town, such as the ones seen in this early 1900s postcard, were recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 as part of the Grand Boulevard Circle Historic District.[1]

The north part of the city of Corona borders the city of Norco. This area (north of CA 91) is primarily residential and commercial. The makeup is primarily middle and upper-middle income, with most housing being built after the late 1990s, and is known for being well maintained and very safe. Prominent areas include Corona Hills and Corona Ranch.

Most of the City's downtown area lies north of the 91 freeway, and is home to the former Fender Museum (now the new Corona Community Center). The area is prominently full of office and apartment buildings, with the newest one (Main Street Metro) under construction. Downtown is also the location of the North Main Corona Metrolink station, which is one of two Metrolink stations in the city.

The central city area includes the inner circle of Grand Avenue as well as all areas south of CA 91 and north of Ontario Avenue. This is the oldest area of the city by far, with most housing having been built around 1910. This part of the city has a mixed Hispanic and white population, and consists of many restored historic residences.

South Corona is the newest part of Corona, and is located south of Ontario Avenue. Most housing stock was built between the early 2000s to the present. There are multi-million dollar custom-built estates in this area. This area has the highest rated schools in the city (as well as some of the highest in the region). It is primarily middle-class to upper-class with normal to high income levels.

Sierra Del Oro is the western portion of Corona, comprising the neighborhoods situated along Green River Rd, extending all the way towards the 91 freeway and the Orange/Riverside county line. This area holds many apartment complexes geared towards commuters. The Corona Auto Center is located at the base of the foothills. In December 2016, construction of the Foothill Parkway expansion was completed, allowing a direct street link between Sierra Del Oro and South Corona.

Dos Lagos is located near the southern city limits of Corona, straddling Interstate 15. The area is mostly dominated by upscale apartment complexes, newer homes, a shopping center, and a large golf course.

Temescal Valley, California is an unincorporated but census-designated area in Riverside County at the southernmost end of Corona city limits, and is included in the city's sphere of influence. It includes the neighborhoods of Sycamore Creek, Trilogy, The Retreat and Horsethief Canyon Ranch. As of 2013, the City of Corona has applied for annexation of the area through the Riverside County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).[29] On September 26, 2013, the Commission formally denied the City of Corona's request for annexation.[30] The contract between Corona and the County to provide its emergency services to the northern-third of Temescal Valley persists.[31]

Although the arguments of the opponents of annexation included the fear of being "Coronians" and losing the area's identity, Temescal Valley's ZIP Code remains associated with Corona, CA.[32]

Home Gardens is a Census Designated place within the City of Corona's sphere of influence. The neighborhood is largely populated by Hispanic and Caucasian communities. Home Gardens is one of Corona's largest neighborhoods with a population estimate of approximately 12,000 residents. It is also one of the city's lowest income areas. The neighborhood is served by Magnolia Avenue, a major thoroughfare which leads into the City of Riverside. Bus service is served by the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) and Corona Cruiser.

El Cerrito is located on the southeastern part of the city, just a few exits north of the Dos Lagos neighborhood on I-15. El Cerrito is mostly a rural/suburban area with many dirt roads in alleyways and no ranches. El Cerrito is home to El Cerrito Sports Park, a large park consisting of one baseball field and a popular destination for Little League Baseball and local school softball teams. El Cerrito is served by Ontario Avenue/Temescal Canyon Road.

Eagle Glen is located between South Corona and El Cerrito, and is the neighborhood around Wilson Elementary and Eagle Glen. It is close to Wilson Elementary, El Cerrito Middle School, and Santiago High School, all of which are California distinguished schools. Many of the homes are valued anywhere from $400,000 to $650,000. Eagle Glen is also home to a golf course.

The city's downtown area is circled by Grand Boulevard, which is very unusual for being perfectly circular. The street is approximately 1 mi (2 km) in diameter.

Corona's Public Transportation includes the following bus lines: RTA route 1 from West Corona to UC Riverside, RTA route 3 from Corona Regional Medical Center to Swan Lake in nearby Eastvale, RTA route 214 from Downtown Corona to The Village shopping center in Orange, RTA route 206 from Downtown Corona to Temecula, OCTA bus route from Anaheim to South Corona Walmart (Ontario Avenue), and the Corona Cruiser blue and red lines.

There is a proposal to erect a new four-lane freeway along/near Cajalco Road/Ramona Expressway to connect Interstate 15 with that of I-215. In addition, there is a possibly of constructing a 7.5 mi (12.1 km) tunnel under the Santiago Peak Mountains to the Eastern Transportation Corridor of the FastTrak toll-road company system in Orange in Orange County, due to increased freeway commute traffic on State Route 91, needs to be reduced by another freeway from the OC to Riverside.

Corona Municipal Airport (FAA designator: AJO) serves the city and has a 3,200-foot (980 m) runway. On January 20, 2008, two small passenger aircraft collided over Corona, killing all four men aboard the planes and another man on the ground. In the past ten years, there have been five fatal plane crashes around Corona.

Southern California Edison services most of the electricity and a small part of the city is serviced by Corona Department of Water and Power. Waste Management Inc. provides waste disposal for the city.

The Arts Alive Council is a non-profit organization created with the purpose to "foster, promote, and increase the public knowledge and appreciation of the arts and cultural activities in the greater Corona Area." Members include the Corona Symphony Orchestra, Circle City Chorale, Christian Arts and Theater, and Corona Dance Academy.[41]

Off Broadway Corona Theater (OBCTheater) is a non-profit organization which strives to provide high quality theatrical productions and performing arts training opportunities. They are committed to excellence and produce two to three theatrical productions of the highest artistic quality each year that are presented at the Corona Civic Center Auditorium.[42]